Suggest a Great Place in America

APA Is Looking for Great Neighborhoods, Streets, and Public Spaces

Deadline for 2015 consideration: June 1, 2015

As part of this initiative, APA needs your help in suggesting places that are great and merit such designation. We want you to suggest your favorite streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces across America, whether they are in your own city or town, in a place you've visited, or in a place you otherwise know about.

Places selected for designation as a Great Neighborhood, Great Street, or Great Public Space are recognized by APA during National Community Planning Month each October.

Suggestions may be sent to APA at any time during the year. Depending on the time of year received, they may be considered for the current calendar year or for future years.

Members of the APA Board of Directors and AICP Commission are not eligible to submit a Great Places suggestion during their term of office.

What Makes a Place Great?

We all can think of a neighborhood, street, or public place that is unique or memorable, but what makes it special?

What elements combine to produce a place that not only works for people in the community but rises far above the ordinary?

APA's selection guidelines will be considered in addition to other important factors such as geography, population, demographics, planning involvement, sustainable building, and setting (urban, suburban, rural).

Consider these guidelines not as a checklist of "must-haves," but rather as important principles from which decisions about designated Great Places will be made.

Make a Suggestion

Follow these four easy steps:

1. Review the Great Places Designation List, which includes all designations to date by state, city, category, and year. Check this list to make sure your suggested places have not been previously designated.

2. Review the EZ Form and Guidance document. Included are a one-page suggestion form and an overview of some qualities and characteristics found in APA Great Places.

3. Click on the links at left to read the characteristics of Great Neighborhoods, Great Streets, and Great Public Spaces to see what APA considers when evaluating suggestions. Reviewing summaries and photos of past designations is also useful. Make use of an index of past designations organized by category and year.